MICHAEL Shields faces 15 years in a jail where up to 20 inmates are crammed into one cell.

Bulgarian authorities admitted Varna jail was over-crowded and well below the standards of other European nations.

District court spokeswoman Elena Bangieva warned that Michael would be expected to scrub toilets in the harsh regime at the prison.

And she admitted he would be faced with meals barely edible by British standards.

But, amazingly, Ms Bangieva still described the prison as "one of the best in the country".

She aded: "In some cases prisoners serving up to five years for minor offences must share a cell with between 15 and 20 others.

"Inmates serving longer sentences are usually kept locked up with four or five others."

She said Bulgarian prisons had improved dramatically over the past four years, as the country sought EU membership in two years.

The spokeswoman said Varna was cleaner than other jails because the inmates were forced to do the cleaning.

Facilities include a large library and a fitness centre, and Bulgarian folk music is available.

In Britain, prisoners are allowed regular contact with relatives, including telephone calls, letters and visits. They are also guaranteed "whole-some, nutritious and well prepared food" including vegetarian and vegan options.

Bulgarian inmates are allowed visitors only once a week and the food, which consists of three hot meals a day, "is of poor quality due to budgetary problems".

Prisoners there are allowed outside only once a week, while in Britain they are guaranteed half an hour a day.

Medical care is sufficient, with doctors, social workers and psychologists on call 24 hours a day.

Ms Bangieva said: "As far as prisons go, this would not be a bad one to be placed in."